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Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Pure Via Zero Calorie Sweeteners

Pure Via™, from the Whole Earth Sweetener Company, is a new, zero calorie alternative to sugar. It’s made using a sweetening ingredient which has been extracted from the Stevia plant, to provide a natural sweetness which closely resembles sugar.

The Pure Via range consists of sugar cubes, sachets and granulated.

Pure Via™ Sugar Cubes

One box contains 65 cubes. They're a bit smaller than regular sugar cubes but have the look and feel of the real thing. Each cube is equal to the sweetness of one regular sugar cube. However, Pure Via cubes have zero calories compared with 20 calories for a regular sugar cube. They’re ideal for using in hot drinks.

The granulated form of Pure Via comes in an 80g box. This is ideal for using as a general table top sweetener, cooking and baking. But it’s also suitable for use in hot drinks. Each teaspoon (0.5g) has two calories and equals one teaspoon of sugar in sweetness.

Many people have concerns about using artificial sweeteners in place of regular sugar. The Pure Via range appears to offer a natural, low calorie alternative sweetener to sugar. Providing three different forms of the sweetener is a good idea, especially the cubes, as there is little competition among other sweeteners in this area.

As yet, there isn’t a variety in tablet form. Since this is a common and convenient way of dispensing sweeteners, perhaps there will be one in the future.

Tastewise, Pure Via certainly provides enough sweetness. After using the sweetener in cups of tea and coffee, I’ve been able to reduce how much I use (and I have a very sweet tooth). It does take a little getting used to. However, this is true with anything you use instead of sugar, whether it’s artificial, or a sugar substitute such as honey or agave nectar. They all have their own unique taste.

Pure Via is a welcome addition to the world of low calorie sweeteners. However, it is expensive. Those who get through lots of sweeteners during the day could find using Pure Via rather costly. But if artificial sweeteners are a cause for concern, and you don’t want the calories of sugar, then Pure Via is a great choice.

Pure Via is widely available in major supermarkets including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose and ASDA.

Extract from the Whole Earth Sweetener Company:

‘At the Whole Earth Sweetener Company we are dedicated to bringing you and your family natural ways to enjoy a sweet, healthy lifestyle.’

About Pure Via from the box:

'Pure Via, low calorie sweetener made with extracts of the Stevia plant. Originally native to Paraguay, Stevia has been used for centuries in South America and more recently in Asia as a sweetener. It delivers delicious sweetness without calories.'